How to Finance a Mahana Fresh Franchise: Bowl Shop Build-Out
By Anthony Cornella
A Mahana Fresh franchise loan finances a fast-casual restaurant built around customizable bowls, wraps and smoothies made fresh on site. Like most counter-service concepts, the money goes into a leased space, a build-out, kitchen equipment, opening inventory and working capital, and lenders will want to see a clear plan for each piece.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Mahana Fresh; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to lender review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, and buyers should review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Mahana Fresh Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Franchisor: Mahana Fresh, LLC, which issued a 2025 FDD.
- Concept: fast-casual restaurant serving build-your-own and signature bowls, wraps and smoothies, with food prepared on site.
- Fees and investment: the initial franchise fee, royalty, marketing fees and estimated initial investment are set out in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current FDD; we could not confirm current figures from the franchisor’s own materials, so request the FDD before budgeting.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S3772, with a note about the lease rider when real estate secures the loan.
- Primary financing routes: SBA 7(a) loans, conventional loans, equipment financing and working capital lines.
What Is Mahana Fresh?
Mahana Fresh is a fast-casual restaurant brand led by founder and CEO Dave Wood, a former multi-unit restaurant franchisee, and headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. The franchisor entity is Mahana Fresh, LLC.
The menu. Guests choose a signature bowl or build their own by picking a base such as rice, noodles or greens, then a protein, a cooked vegetable and add-ons. The menu also includes wraps and smoothies, and the brand has promoted gluten-free wraps and desserts, vegetarian and keto-friendly signature bowls, and a menu of smaller, higher-protein bowls aimed at guests taking weight-loss medications.
How the kitchen works. The brand describes food prepared on site without fryers, microwaves or frozen food. Proteins are cooked on a grill, and vegetables and sauces are prepared in-house. That approach shapes the equipment package and labor plan, both of which matter in a loan request.
Footprint. Mahana Fresh has opened restaurants in several states, mostly on the East Coast, and has been expanding into new markets in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and West. Item 20 of the current FDD lists the number of franchised and company-owned outlets and recent openings, transfers and closures.
Why lenders view the brand the way they do. Lenders see a younger, growing fast-casual system. That means they lean heavily on the borrower’s own strength: restaurant experience, liquidity, the quality of the site and lease, and a conservative ramp-up assumption.
Mahana Fresh Franchise Costs
The FDD is the only reliable source for current fees and investment ranges. Request the most recent version from the franchisor and read Items 5, 6 and 7 before talking to lenders.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 states the fee for a single restaurant and any area development or multi-unit fees, when they are due and whether any part is refundable.
Real estate and build-out. Most fast-casual restaurants lease an end-cap or inline space in a shopping center. Build-out typically covers plumbing, electrical, ventilation, finishes, the service line and seating, and costs vary widely with the condition of the space and landlord allowances.
Kitchen equipment and furniture. A bowl concept needs grills, refrigeration, prep tables, a make line, blenders for smoothies, dishwashing, point-of-sale technology and dining room furniture.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory, training, grand opening marketing, deposits, insurance and licenses all come before the first sale, and the restaurant then needs cash to cover payroll and rent while sales build.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD gives the estimated initial investment range and the line items behind it. Expect the table to address categories such as:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements and construction
- Kitchen equipment, smallwares and furniture
- Signage and decor
- Point-of-sale system and technology
- Opening inventory
- Training expenses and travel
- Grand opening marketing
- Security deposits, insurance, licenses and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, brand or marketing fund contribution, any local advertising requirement, technology fees, transfer fees and renewal fees.
How lenders factor these costs in. Royalty and marketing fees are typically charged as a percentage of gross sales, so they come out before rent, food, labor and debt payments. Lenders deduct them from projected sales, then test whether the restaurant can still cover its Mahana Fresh franchise loan payments if sales fall short. Fresh-prep kitchens make realistic labor and food cost assumptions just as important.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor sets its own financial and experience criteria, which we could not confirm from its materials. Ask the franchise development team for current net worth and liquid capital requirements and whether it prefers owner-operators or multi-unit developers.
The approval process. Franchise candidates generally submit an inquiry, receive the FDD, review it for at least the legally required waiting period, meet the leadership team and, if approved, sign a franchise agreement.
Ways to Own a Mahana Fresh
Opening a new restaurant. Lenders underwrite on projections, the site, the lease and the owner’s restaurant experience. Our page on restaurant start-up financing explains how new-unit loans are structured.
Buying an existing restaurant. Existing Mahana Fresh restaurants occasionally come up for sale. A resale gives the lender actual sales and expense history, an existing lease and trained staff. The franchisor’s transfer approval and the remaining franchise and lease terms are key. See our guide to buying a franchise resale and our page on franchise restaurant acquisition financing.
Area development. Some franchisees sign agreements to open several restaurants over a set schedule. Lenders usually finance one restaurant at a time, so the development schedule must line up with the owner’s capital and the cash flow from earlier units.
Financing Options for a Mahana Fresh Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Mahana Fresh is on the SBA Franchise Directory, the SBA 7(a) loan program can finance the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory and working capital in a single loan.
SBA 504 loans. If an owner buys or builds the restaurant’s building, the SBA 504 program can finance owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment. Our page on restaurant real estate acquisition covers that route.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong liquidity may use conventional financing, particularly for a second or third restaurant.
Equipment financing. Grills, refrigeration, blenders, prep stations and point-of-sale hardware can often be financed separately. Learn more about restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. A new restaurant needs a cushion for payroll, food purchases and rent during the ramp-up, and an established one may need cash for repairs or slower seasons. Explore restaurant working capital options.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may agree to carry part of the price. Any seller note would need to fit the senior lender’s structure and is typically subordinate to the main loan, and SBA rules may limit how it counts toward the buyer’s equity.
SBA Loans for Mahana Fresh Franchisees
SBA lenders use the SBA Franchise Directory to confirm that a brand’s franchise agreement has been reviewed for SBA eligibility. A listing does not approve any borrower; it clears the franchise relationship so the lender can apply its own underwriting.
The directory listing. Mahana Fresh appears on the directory under code S3772. The listing includes a note that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Rider to Lease Agreement may not be executed.
What that note means in plain English. Many franchise systems ask franchisees to have their landlord sign a lease rider that gives the franchisor certain rights to the location. That makes sense when a franchisee leases from an unrelated landlord. But if the loan is secured by the real estate itself, for example because the borrower or an affiliate owns the building, the rider would conflict with the lender’s position, so it cannot be signed in that situation. Buyers who plan to own their building should raise this with the franchisor and lender early.
Program limits. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
Application tips. Assemble a project budget that mirrors Item 7, a lease or letter of intent, a personal financial statement, tax returns, a resume showing restaurant or management experience and monthly projections. Our SBA loan calculator gives rough planning estimates, not an offer or approval.
How Lenders Evaluate a Mahana Fresh Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and owners typically sign a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want to see the equity injection and meaningful reserves left after closing.
Restaurant experience. Prior restaurant ownership or management is one of the strongest factors in a request for a newer concept. Without it, a lender may look for an experienced general manager.
Business plan and projections. Projections should reflect local demographics, lunch and dinner traffic, delivery and catering, fresh-prep labor and food costs, the FDD’s fees and a gradual sales ramp.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read Items 5, 6, 7, 17 and 20, and Item 10 for any franchisor financing. Item 19 shows whether the FDD includes financial performance representations. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document explains what they look for.
Site and lease. Lenders review the lease term, rent, escalations and allowances.
Historical financials for resales. For an existing restaurant, expect to provide several years of profit and loss statements, sales reports and tax returns.
Equipment and the Fresh-Prep Kitchen
A kitchen with no fryers or microwaves relies on grills and other cooking equipment for bases and proteins, refrigeration and prep space for fresh vegetables and sauces, and blenders for smoothies. Equipment holds some collateral value, so it can be financed with the main loan or separately. Leasehold improvements stay with the building and carry little collateral value, which is why lenders look closely at the build-out budget.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Lenders underwrite a second restaurant on the first restaurant’s results, combined cash flow and the owner’s remaining liquidity. If you sign a development agreement, make sure the opening schedule leaves time for each restaurant to stabilize before the next loan. Our franchise due diligence checklist helps you review development terms before you commit.
Real-World Scenarios
An experienced operator opening a first unit. A former restaurant manager signs a lease in a busy shopping center and finances the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and opening costs with an SBA 7(a) loan, keeping personal reserves for the ramp-up.
A buyer who will own the building. An investor buys a small pad site and plans to build the restaurant. Because the real estate will secure the loan, the franchisor’s lease rider is not signed, and the deal is structured with SBA 504 or 7(a) real estate financing.
A resale buyer. A buyer acquires an existing restaurant from an owner who is moving. The lender reviews actual results, confirms the remaining lease and franchise terms and accepts a subordinate seller note.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Budgeting from outdated figures instead of the current FDD
- Signing a lease before the lender and franchisor have reviewed it
- Overlooking the lease rider note when the real estate secures the loan
- Underestimating labor and food costs in a fresh-prep kitchen
- Holding too little working capital for the ramp-up
- Signing a development schedule your capital cannot support
For more pitfalls, read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Mahana Fresh Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Get the latest FDD and confirm the fees, investment range and owner requirements.
Step 2: Review it with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 20 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist early. Learn how much you can borrow and how much equity you need before choosing a site.
Step 4: Secure a site. Work with the franchisor on site selection and negotiate lease terms that fit your loan.
Step 5: Build your budget and projections. Match the budget to Item 7 and build monthly projections with realistic ramp-up assumptions.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your loan package and coordinate closing with construction and the franchisor’s opening timeline.
Mahana Fresh Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Mahana Fresh franchise cost?
The estimated initial investment is in Item 7 of the current FDD. We could not confirm current figures from the franchisor’s own materials, so request the FDD before planning a budget.
What is the Mahana Fresh franchise fee and royalty?
Item 5 sets the initial fee and Item 6 sets the royalty and marketing contributions. Confirm both in the current FDD.
Is Mahana Fresh on the SBA Franchise Directory?
Yes. It is listed under code S3772, with a note that the Rider to Lease Agreement may not be executed when the real estate will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Mahana Fresh?
The directory listing allows SBA lenders to consider a Mahana Fresh franchise loan, subject to normal underwriting of the borrower, site and projections.
Can I finance kitchen equipment separately?
Often, yes. Grills, refrigeration and blenders can be financed with an equipment loan or lease, though many buyers include them in one SBA 7(a) loan.
Can a first-time restaurant owner get financing?
Possibly. Lenders weigh management experience heavily for a newer concept, so first-time owners strengthen their case with strong liquidity and an experienced general manager.
Can I buy an existing Mahana Fresh?
Yes, when one is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer. A resale gives lenders actual financial history.
Can I open multiple locations?
Area development may be available. Lenders typically finance each restaurant separately as earlier units prove out.
Does Mahana Fresh offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the current FDD for any financing the franchisor offers.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 of the current FDD sets the term, renewal and transfer conditions.
Final Thoughts
Mahana Fresh offers a fresh-prep, fast-casual concept with an SBA directory listing that opens the door to SBA 7(a) financing. Buyers who start from the current FDD, choose a strong site and bring restaurant experience and reserves will present the strongest Mahana Fresh franchise loan request.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance new restaurants, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing solutions and restaurant financing programs.
